Commodore achieves Five-Star ANCAP rating

The result comes from the addition of a steering column shroud energy absorber across the VE sedan range that helps to reduce driver knee injuries, and a passenger seat belt reminder on the Omega sedan (introduced in October this year).

These improvements are in addition to the front passenger side impact airbags and curtain airbags that were made standard across the range earlier in 2008.

These improvements add to Omega’s already impressive safety equipment list of ABS, EBA, EBD, ESP and Traction Control – all of which are included as standard.

GM Holden Chairman and Managing Director, Mark Reuss welcomed the result and said it was encouraging to receive this third party endorsement.

“We have always been very confident of this vehicle’s real world safety capabilities. Before we launched VE, we conducted almost 80 real world prototype crash tests and more than 5000 crashtest simulations using leading edge virtual technology. When it comes to safety we are committed to continually improving the passive and active safety features we offer. We are also pleased to see that ANCAP now acknowledges Electronic Stability Control in determining its ratings.”

Could all the armchair experts who proclaimed that the Commodore could not possibly achieve 5 stars (because they scored too low in certain aspects of the test) please eat their words. Well done Holden.

Bret

Dlr1,
I’m not one who proclaimed that the VE wouldn’t make it, but the previous results did indicate that it was not possible without structrural change –> bring on the structural change and the 5 stars. Problem solved.

Anti spam word = Volvo. he he

Goodfa

Holden held out the changes until series 3 for Health reasons.With these changes the car will be known as the Omega 3.

Mohamad is right when he

About time Holden caught up to aussie standards set by the one and only FG

-Well done FORD, wake up HOLDEN….

get it right the first time

aussie cars keep getting better and better

soon….euro cars will just be a waste of time and money….u’l see

FRUGAL_ONE

Now we know why Ford did/nt really push its 5-star rating, they knew it was only a matter of time before Holden caught up.

Ford is already struggling in sales, this has just made there job just a little tougher.

Petrol prices are down though!

Common Aurion/Camry, all up to you too now!

Cheers

F-0

Golfschwein

Goodfa made a joke! And a very good one.

It’s good to see the Commodore across the line on this one. See, it could be done.

Now all they need to do is make their HF V6 truly High Featured and ditch the base engine and tranny combo for something decent.

Gotta say I’m getting tired of seeing the year 2009 model printed everywhere when it is still 2008.
Can I go today to a Holden, Subaru or Hyundai dealer & buy a 2009 plated car??
If I buy a new car today & sell it early next year will it be treated as a 2008 car or 2009 car??
I know it’s common terminology these days to quote the 2009 model specification but it gives me the craps.

TonyB

This Caradvice article isn’t apparently the full story. Other on-line articles indicate that yes, while the Commodore Omega Sedan has got the five stars, other Commodore VE variants remained on four stars because they wont have the seat-belt reminder thingy until mid-next year.

frosty

Actually this is the model year 2009.5 so its the mid 2009 upgrade happening in December 2008. Just shows Holden are ahead of their time. I wouldn\’t call steering wheel improvements structural front end changes… Its an improvement to lessen injury so to those who said it needed structural changes admit defeat and apopogise for missleading those less informed about cars like yourselves.

frosty

Sorry meant to write apologise. Writing this on my HTC Touch Pro’s onscreen keyboard and not the sliding one. Not as easy to use as my laptop.lol

Escort_Ghia

good on you holden about time, now all you gotta do is get finacing back on you dealers before they all close down and you can’t sell them.

Holden ahead of their time? Bwahahaha, good one Frosty! You have had a bit much Omega 3 today me thinks.

Bret

Frosty, you’d have to classify this change as structural, as it adds a energy absorbing/dissipating structure, as opposed from up-specing the number of airbags, which was what some claimed was all they neede to do.

Oh, and the little warning light/buzzer…….? How does that make a car actually anymore crashworthy?
And they wonder why some say ancRap!

http://skyline The Salesman

Well done Holden. I don’t think it will help sales though. Consumer confidence is suffering due to bad press about GM, Ford and Chrysler. Petrol prices have come down, but that doesn’t help the months of pain six cylinder owners have felt at the pump. Add to that slow sales, low trade in prices, fantastic deals in the showrooms focused in moving old stock and the exit of GE and GMAC i can understand why consumers are shying away from this product. Good news on the production of a four cylinder at Adelaide, lets hope it is a winner.

http://Internode.on.net Peter

Bret, NRMA refused to give the the new Passat 5 stars in 2006/7 because there was no seat warning (but my 2006 Passat has this). Like you, I still don’t understand how this affects crashworthiness. A mate in the auto industry says that with the current trend to NOT wear seatbelts ppl are disabling the buzzer/light anyway.

http://skyline The Salesman

Rio has become a bit of a sales monster, allot of my customers see the value in moving a few thousand dollars to buy new, instead of used three or five year old somthing. Pitty we dont have more margin in them

Bret

Peter,
It’s not the seatbelt reminder thing as such. It’s just about points.
The VE, (2009.5) with all it’s improved crash features, of extra airbags, modified door locks, steering column shroud etc scores 32.45 out of 37. The cutoff for 5 stars is 32.5
Guess what. A seatbelt reminder is worth 1 point. Presto 32.45 becomes 33.45 and 5 stars.
BUT it’s only Omega because it has the simplest wiring harness, and therefore is the easiest to change.
BTW FG Falcon 34.61 = easy 5 stars

Could this statement be a hint that this will be when VF production will commence?

Pablo

Are Holden still offered their capped fuel prices at 99c per litre?

4 LeMans in a row

As Golfie says above, the engines and transmissions, ride and handling are still woeful compared to the competition, particularly the new FG Falcon. A billion dollars doesn’t get you much does it GM??? The worst car in the big 6 class.

Frontman

Good news for Holden. Even if I don’t regard ANCAP that highly.

In reference to the people saying that the VE wouldn’t get 5 stars, I read them as commenting on those saying that all the VE had to do was the Pole test to get it. As the article shows, they need quite a bit of changes (these would not be cheap changes neither) to achieve the coveted rating. I wonder how much the big T would have to change to get it’s twins to conform?

As to the sales numbers, Commodore is still best selling passenger car even if it is down on numbers (so are most other cars) FG is still bucking the trend though.

Sam

Apparently all the Aurion needs is that stupid seatbelt warning light for the passenger seat to achieve 5*. As if that really makes the car any safer. Oh, and they have to donate a car for the test. We all know Toyota are tight and wont spend a cent if it doent have to be spent.

http://Internode.on.net Peter

Bret, I understand what you are saying. Just for the hell of it I read the 2006 Passat entry on ANCAP – boy they sure stuffed up their version of the specs! Under “Model History & Safety” it only mentions pre-tensioners on the front seats – the outer rear seatbelts also have pre-tensioners. Plus they left out the outer rear seat side airbags.

Wheelnut

Toyota likes to think that the Aurion is Game Changing However; a look at the ANCrAP scoreboard shows that its still trailing the 2 “bogan mobiles”.. [close to full time]

Falcon *****
Commodore *****
Aurion ****

which can only improve both the Falcon and Commodores position in the 2008 V-FACTS Championship [ mind you Commodore can’t go much higher than #1]

Frenchie

Of all the people killed in Australian road accidents 25% were not wearing their seatbelt. Do you think they really notice (or care) about a little flash light? Is this the difference between a 4 star and 5 star rating?

http://skyline The Salesman

I hope one day electronic stability control is standard on all new cars as an ADR requirement.

Captain Mainwaring

Amazing what you can do with a few airbags and warning lights. Why didn’t they just equip it properly in the first place? Was it worth all the negative PR?

Alex

FRUGAL_ONE, what do you mean Ford didn’t push it’s five star rating? They had television commercials on for weeks saying first Australian car to get five stars. I remember it really pissed me off considering Renault got five stars on the Laguna seven years ago!

http://pirelli topdog

Now all holden needs is a new engine and gearbox and new interior and less wheel arch flares and better handling then thay will be able to match the new falcon.And this is not just my appinon but every where i read thay say the same.All i say is go the falcon it is the best car out there in its class and we should be snapping them up while there so cheap

Duck

Good! Now Ford can’t say that it’s falcon is the only large Australian car with a 5 star ANCAP rating!

And also congratulations to Holden! But shame it was’nt before the FG came out!

Does this mean earlier models with less safety than the later Commodores (VE) will have word resale?

going by the previous score it was impossible that a pole test would get them over.
thats all that was argued…

in the previous the frontal score was too low. the re-engineering has obviously worked.

its not just the decent boxes and engine it needs now, but the interiors are a big detractor for me too.

now where are all the holden fans that rubbish Ancap results??
looks more so like word eating heading that was now i see them endorsing it.

even if it remained 4 star i would still rather be in a 4 star commy than a 5 star corolla or focus if the you know what hit the fan.

does this just apply to any old seat belt light??
because the falcons flashes up on the screen and continually beeps at you. So to “frenchie” they arent all a little flashing light. they annoy you into putting the belt on

i still dont know how they title all the headlines as the commodore being the safest though????

Frontman

The most amussing parts are that straight after FG got it’s stars, all the GM execs went on about how they didn’t really worry about the Star Count of Ancap as they knew they built safe cars. They siad that the star count didn’t make the car safer and that the VE was right up there.

Wheelnut

If the VE Commodore got 5-stars because of the new “seat belt warning light” shows just how ridiculous the ANCrAp scoring system is

Because what happens if you own a new Commodore and one day [a year from now] the sensor or the light bulb blows.. the wseat belt light won’t be ablre to illuminate or be visible.

Does this mean that all of a sudden your new SS [for example] that had 5 star safety ins’t as safe all of a sudden .. say 4 or even 3 stars? Gimme a Break!!!!

Wheelnut

Quote [Capt’n Man-whinging]: “Amazing what you can do with a few airbags and warning lights. Why didn’t they just equip it properly in the first place? Was it worth all the negative PR?”

Negative PR.. What negative PR?.. if there was any negative PR it obviously didn’t have much effect. Given that the Commodore is still Australia’s top selling car.

Quote [Alex]: “They [Ford] had television commercials on for weeks saying first Australian car to get five stars. I remember it really pissed me off considering Renault got five stars on the Laguna seven years ago!”

Why are you so p—ed off at Ford – they are right; The Falcon is the First Australian Car to get 5 stars… because correct me if I am Wrong the Renault Laguna is French. NOT Australian!

Duck

Can anybody answer my questions?

Alex

Wheelnut, I was a bit pissed off because they were going on about it like a five star rating was some big thing that they were first to accomplish when in reality, they were just so far behind. There were superminis that were getting five start crash tests before the Falcon ever got one. I was simply commenting on Frugal Ones comment because they did make a big thing of it, but I don’t want to make a big thing of it now.

Alex

PS – Due to the current bout of Holden ads, I’m sure Holden will make an even bigger thing of it than Ford ever did, but then again, there’s no saying yet.

Wheelnut

I don;t think that Ford were making it sound as though they were the first to ever get 5 stars… The ad says

“The first AUSTRALIAN Car to achieve a 5 star safety rating”

NOT

“The first Car to achieve a 5 star safety rating”

Does it not?

I mean most Car Enthusiasts would know that there are other cars from all over the world that have achieved a 5 star safety rating.. but for the Falcon to be the first AUSTRALIAN car to do it is an achievement.. as is that of the VE Commodore

Particularly when you compare the budget and resources etc that Ford Oz and Holden have access to; to those of the bigger international car comapnies like Toyota – whos “Game Changing” Aurion hasn’t achieved 5 stars yet.

Game Changing…? Toyota is more like Goal Post Moving!

Alex

Wheelnut, are you thick or is it that you can’t read? I know it said Australian car but nobody else makes a deal out of it when they get a five star crash rating. Renault didn’t when they got it and I can’t think of anybody else who does. Volkswagen, Peugeot, Renault, BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Volvo, Mazda etc. all get five star ratings all the time and they don’t put television commercials out, or put large stories in the first few pages of newspapers, they just get on with it.
I just don’t know why they would advertise that they are well behind everybody else including the European Fords they sell. It would have been much cooler to just let the results circulate around message boards and dealerships as everybody would have known within about a fortnight anyway.

The Associate

Well done holden? Are you kidding, they’ve made one model out of their whole range 5-Star what a joke, I don’t care if they are waiting till mid 2009 or whatever, how can ANCAP score them for just a reminder!

Ford FG still rocks anyway!!
And they are still the first Ozzy car to get 5*s!!!

Frosty

Big deal the associate. Holden were the first Australian make to put Drivers airbag, passenger airbags, side airbags, ESP etc in the Commodore way back in the VR for the drivers airbag in the Aclaim. All of these things are more to do with safety than just a rating. A rating is just a guide the things I mentioned are actual things that are proven life saving equipment. So basically Holden were the first to employ safety lifesaving items as standard in a Australian made car.

tonyn

im sorry guys but i cant believe that all they needed was a seatbelf reminder, its a pi** poor excuse, and it makes out safety standards a joke.

ford doesnt have the seatbelt reminder, but it is engineered to cope with a accident.

What has taken holden so long to do this?? when they know safety is so important? i can tell you what it is, its arrogance!!

Its a bit like there ” economy saving ” plan with the commodore by reducing KW, the falcon and aurion achieves similar fuel economy with far better power!!

Yet people still contiinue to buy commodore….

tonyn

frosty,

I have owned both vehicles, a VE commodore and currently have a G6E turbo and F6 ute in the FG range.

My father also has a SS ute. You have to be kidding yourself to think that the VE has less issues, my VE i had for 6 months and had it into holden over 15 times, the last time he made up some bulls**t excuse about the wheels and tyres on the car, when the same holden dealer sell the same car with exactly the same mods!! My fathers VE SS has been there so many time ive lost count.

i sold my SS for the G6E turbo and havent had an issue with it, and the F6 uts is the best thing i have ever had.

The problem is fords marketing, i wont deny that, but holden dont listen to anyone either, go on google and see how many people are havoing trouble with VE’S and then attack me about FG.

ford are listening, they did it right the first time, and ENGINEERED the Fg to be 5 star, and i have to say my falcon is every bit as good as the benzes and audis i have owned personally, the same cannot be said about the VE i had.

I wouldnt believe the roumers about CKD falcons, there is plenty of life left in it yet!!

tonyn

frosty,

I have owned both vehicles, a VE commodore and currently have a G6E turbo and F6 ute in the FG range.

My father also has a SS ute. You have to be kidding yourself to think that the VE has less issues, my VE i had for 6 months and had it into holden over 15 times, the last time he made up some bulls**t excuse about the wheels and tyres on the car, when the same holden dealer sell the same car with exactly the same mods!! My fathers VE SS has been there so many time ive lost count.

i sold my SS for the G6E turbo and havent had an issue with it, and the F6 uts is the best thing i have ever had. As for it looking like a BF, the differences are huge, they look nothing alike!!

The problem is fords marketing, i wont deny that, but holden dont listen to anyone either, go on google and see how many people are havoing trouble with VE’S and then attack me about FG.

ford are listening, they did it right the first time, and ENGINEERED the Fg to be 5 star, and i have to say my falcon is every bit as good as the benzes and audis i have owned personally, the same cannot be said about the VE i had.

I wouldnt believe the roumers about CKD falcons, there is plenty of life left in it yet!!

topdog

Thats why ford is lifting there game and now there hole range of cars are better than all those dowoes from holden and the fg was the icing on cake thay are clearly ahead of holden with there products and it will just take bit time for ford to get the message out customers are starting to see this and i recone soon thay will strugle to sell most of there dowoes

topdog

Not to mention holden is the only car maker to sell sedans that get only 2 stars for safety this is way bad .but i here the new dawoes are getting better

topdog

I think frosty is thinking of something to say but for the moment he is just repeating the same words over and over i think his computer has a virus

frosty

Tonyn, Its because people trust Holden. How many times have Ford Australia let down the people of Australia over the years by not listening and the warranty issues and every week I read about customer dissatisfacrtion with customer service. Yes there are some Holden stories but it pales in comparison to Ford. They still haven’t listened re FG as it is still to similar in looks to the BF and people like to be seen with the latest. That has been the situation since year dot. For a car that has been around since 2006 Commodore is still winning the peoples choice award. One reason is Holden always do updates sometimes upto 3 times a year something that Ford doesn’t do. This tells people Holden are a will do not a maybe which Ford is. These are the reasons more people buy Holden and will what ultimately unfortunately be the reason Falcon becomes a CKD Car based on a American FWD after 2012 unless Ford Australia lift their game.

Wheelnut

Quote [The Associate] Well done holden? Are you kidding, they’ve made one model out of their whole range 5-Star what a joke”

Yes it was the base model Omega Commodore that was used for the tests.. However do you really think that Holden would provide ANCrAp with 5 Omegas 5 Berlinas 5 Calias 5 SS Sedans 5 SS Utes 5 Sportwagons etc…. get real!

I mean if someone ordering a VE Calis knew that the base model Omega had the Shock Absorbing Cowling around the Steering wheel they would also expect it to be on the Calais or they’d wonder why it wasn’t on the Calias wouldn’t they?

Therefore Holden will fit the Cowling to all new cars across the VE range as they did with ESP etc

frosty

Topdog, you really are dreaming calling yourself that as I would classify you as the runt of the litter. My Computer has no virus. What I said is fact. Now name a current Holden passengee car that only has 2 stars? You wont find one. Now stop the personal attacks, read the website code of conduct and talk about the matter at hand.

max

I don’t why some of you guys are harping on about the seat belt warning sign as getting the VE over the line, they have made quite a few changes in materials and design to meet the required frontal offset score. You can bet this cost quite a bit as well.
Congrats to them however for getting there, well one model for the moment anyway.
Frosty up until a month or so ago the Barina was only 2 stars, now just squeezed into 4 stars, but that sure is a lot better. No need to eat Topdog’s lunch though, it was only 2 stars for 2 or 3 years, he can be forgiven for missing that earth shattering news. Would really love to see ABS become standard on this car.

Bret

Max,
Probably the reason for all of the discussion about the seatbelt reminder is because all of the other structural changes are probably accross the range, but the seatbelt reminder gets the Omega “over the line”.

The bottom line being, that all post October 08 VE’s are as safe as each other (if you “remember” to put your seatbelt on??), and are all significantly safer than ALL VE’s built pre-October 08.
Remember there are a whole heap of little detail engineering changes as well as additional equipment.

And yes Duck, this MAY devalue ealier models, however there are far bigger influences on values.

topdog

Yep you got it max im reading a mag from last month and was shocked to see the barina with only 2 stars for safety

Devil666

I think what we all seem to be forgetting is that 4 or 5 star or not, VE and FG crash statistics are very, very close in terms of figures recorded. Seat belt reminders or not, if you are in a crash so severe it would kill you in the VE, you would be dead in an FG too. Both cars are incredibly structurally sound and a seatbelt light isn’t going to save you in a crash either.

On a separate topic: 23,000 kms later my Calais V 6.0 hasn’t had one issue so I really find it hard to believe there are so many VE problems. Perhaps the luxury models are less prone to faults? Finally, sure the Omega interior is kinda foul but the interior on my car is excellent, logical and functional. Why so much bagging?

Also, I think its a tad too early to judge wether or not the FG is fault free, you have to give it some time for the niggles to appear.

Andrew M

Devil,
the VE was out for 6 months and had 3??? recalls and other problems.
the FG has been out for that long and no reported dramas.
when you break down the points you are talking near 5 points difference. the FG got an easy 5 star whereas the early VE’s got a mid 4 star. its near one full star difference when you look at it like that
it not just the seat belt light. if you read they made quite a few changes.

Frosty,
the falcon was the first to include driver, and then passenger airbags as standard. i dont know where you get your facts from, but they aint facts.

Frosty

Andrew M, you are wrong. The VR Acclaim was the FIRST 9NUMERO UNO) Car to come out with drivers airbag. The VS cam out with dual airbags standard while the EF came with standard Drivers and optional passenger. It was the first to make the passenger airbag optional because the EF came between the VR and VS model cycles. The special edition VT series one Calais came with standard side airbags whilst the VT 2 Calais, Berlina sedan and wagon and Acclaim sedan and Wagon came out with standard side airbags. Don’t dispute my knowledge Andrew as I have been following the car scene most likely longer than you have been alive and I update my cars as often as 6 months and own 3 cars and also drive fleet vehicles so my knowledge of cars is extensive in all aspcts of cars. Cars and Mobile phones are my 2 hobbies and I follow both with a passion and as such if you check when each model Falcon came out and Commodore you will find Holden were the first to offer the airbags as standard.

Frosty

I meant to say the BF was the first to make the passenger airbag on a locally built car BUT it was a option not standard as you state whilst the VS Acclaim were first to make dual airbags standard. You will find the VR came out before the BF and the Acclaim was introduced in the VR as the safer family car compared to the Executive and as such came with drivers airbag. THe EB which was still on sale when the VR got released did NOT offer any airbag.

topdog

Isnt it funny how on one hand people say who cares the ford is the first ausie car with 5 stars and rave on about it dosent matter then on the other hand thay rave on about who was first wit hair bags i mean dose it all matter so long as we all get the stuff and its affordable.I remember when ford offered abs for just 1 dollar and holden offered it for 990 .The point is who cres who is first so long as it dosent take t olong to get it into our cars so thats good that holden got there cars up there for the high ranking

topdog

Better late than never i say we can only hope that holden get rid of those dawoes and ge tthe euroepean cars instead

Andrew M

Frosty,
standard means standard across the range.

Would you say the falcon has 6 airbags standard?? No. the upper specs that have 6 are models above standard fitment.

its also like saying the XF Falcon had standard Disc brakes when only the S Pack and up did.

The commodore didnt have a drivers airbag standard until late 97 with the VT. August ’97 to be exact. i know because at the time my uncle owned a ’97 VS, and had a 97 VT compant car
The Falcon had an airbag fitted standard in 94 with the EF.

the AU falcon had dual airbags fitted standard with the second series in 2000
The Commodore didnt get dual bags fitted standard until 02 with the VY.

talk yourself up all you like, but do you think you are the only one that might actually know something???
You have just made the biggest mistake of underestimating your oppisosition.
it also wouldnt matter how long you have been following the auto scene, because relating to airbags, that was only 14 years ago. if i wasnt alive to remember that, i wouldnt be old enough to have my own subscription to internet access to be having this conversation.

its like you arguing your point over modern days stats and declaring you are right because you lived with the dinosaurs.
who knows??? i could be 50 and you could still have 20 years on me, but that counts for squat since we are discussing things that have happened over the last 14 years

and i assume when you corrected your typo with “BF” that that was also a typo because surely you know you are well off on that one

Andrew M

ooops,
excuse my typos such as
“oppisosition” ha ha ha ha ha

Frosty

uh uh Andrew, don’t try to clarify your mistake…. It doesn’t mean standard across the range…. The Holden Acclaim had a standard Drivers airbag from the VR Commodore which was in the showrooms in 1994.The Holden Commodore Acclaim was the first Australian car to have a drivers airbag standard end of argument. So why not just admit your wrong. I am sure doing a search you will find the facts and once I get back home around Lunch I will do a search myself as I am 200% sure bare minimum that you will find that my claim is Correct.

Duck

Frosty is right Andrew M.

Frosty

Also Andrew M the VS was the first to offer a passenger airbag as is also stated in the website unigue cars and parts dot com. Also as per the same website regarding the VR

2. Holden Commodore
Holden Commodore: History, Car Reviews and Specifications
… Latest Classifieds View RSS feed Holden Commodore Monday the 13th November 1978 was a watershed for the General, that day launcing the Opel re-engineered Commodore. GMH engineers had naturally made changes to ensure the durability of the car in … conditions, but the real gamble was whether Australian’s would be accepting of the all-new body style as a suitable replacement for the traditional large family sedan. Under the Opel skin lay the ever reliable assortment of all-Aussie red engines, … and optional across the range, the system being adapted from the long wheelbase VQ. More>> Holden Commodore VR 1993- 1995 The VR Series was the first Australian built car to offer a driver’s airbag. The introduction …

Frosty

Now I am willing to finish that debate there but I do get annoyed by someone who is either ignorant to the motoring history in Australia or is just so anti Holden to admit that Holden have led the safety path in Australia for many years. I suppose you think Ford were also first with ESP. Personally and I am sure many safety conscious people would agree is that life saving head protecting curtain airbags should be manadatory on all new cars and that NO 5 star rating should apply to one without them. As such I totally disagree that the lower model Falcons should have a 5 star rating with only technology that Holden had in the VT series 2 Commodore which in 1999 had 4 airbags just like the 2008 Falcon has.

Frosty

Sorry mandatory not manadatory

Frosty

Andrew M said…….it also wouldnt matter how long you have been following the auto scene, because relating to airbags, that was only 14 years ago. if i wasnt alive to remember that, i wouldnt be old enough to have my own subscription to internet access to be having this conversation.
Andrew M you say that but how can you prove its your own internet subscription? My 5 year old niece can access the internet that her parents have got even if she is watched by her parents to ensure she goes to the Barbie websites…. This is no way can prove ones age. I myself can prove that I am over 18 as I have a couple of websites of my own relating to my old band back in the early 80’s and once you saw my grey hairs you would realise I am far from young.

Duck

VR Commodore………

“The rear-end treatment saw raised tail lights, implemented for safety reasons, and a driver’s side airbag was introduced as an option: a first for an Australian-built car.”

Source: Wikipedia

Andrew M

Thanks Duck,
you proved my point.
If its not available on the base model its considered NOT standard. Even as you Quote Wiki, they class it as optional.

Frosty,
well if you knew it all you would realise that the VR actually started in ’93, NOT ’94 as you say.

Also if you knew a thing about fords airbags you would realise that if the car isnt optioned with curtain airbags, then the side airbags operate differently to offer head protection.

I think its even worse that the base model commodore didnt get a single life saving front airbag standard until ’97.
You up ford for the rent for not putting 6 standards on the base model, yet think its ok how long holden held off on putting the most important of all “drivers bag” in its standard kit.

VR Acclaim had standard drivers airbag as did Berlina and Calais so I would say that VR was the first to offer a airbag as standard. So it was still the first aussie built car to have a drivers airbag as standard. It has nothing to do with base model. It was still the first car to offer one as standard.

topdog

All this fighting over who was first with standard air bag too much for me to follow.All i know is ford is the first to make a 5 star car good on them i say good to see ford doing things first up

Wheelnut

We Aussies should be proud that the two uniquely Australian designed and built family sedans were able to achieve the coveted 5 star safety rating before the world’s wealthiest car company with their “Goal Post Shifting” Aurion.

I mean when you consider the resources and the money that Holden and Ford have access to compared to that of Toyota and the fact that Ford and Holden have made consecutive losses over the years whereas they made record profits you’d think that Toyota would be able to do far more and that they would have been the first to get 5 stars.

Infact you’d expect Toyota to get 5 stars across their entire range.. Wheras the only car company I can think of that has a complete 5 stars range is Subaru.

topdog

Wheelnut you hit the nail on the head you would think the aurion would be way out in front with all there resources thay have but the falcon is a lot better ive driven booth and as good as the toyota is the ford is a much better drive for me and felt more solid with a full load on board over some rough roads i had it on ill take the falcon with out quetion

Aussiecar

Please dont bring the Aurion into this. In terms of cabin size it dosent come close to the Commodore or the Falcon.
It`s a 200KW V6 Camry, nothing more nothing less.

Although the Falcon has a better safety rating, if I was going to get hit in the side by another car or truck, I would prefer the commodore due to its more solid chassis.

Agree with everyone who commented on Holdens gearbox/engine combo on the Omega/Berlina.
Bring the 5speed out on all models, its pretty good with the 5speed(still not as good as the falcon combo).
And smooth out the 6cyl( I read the caddys six coming to the commodore is alot better power wise but is still a little rough at idle)

Wheelnut

I’ve heard that both the Cadillac V6 and “Northstar” V8 engines are destined for Oz…. The engines are okay but they can keep the hideous cars they came from at home in the USA.. Even though I’d like to see Holden [Engine Company] return to the good ol Aussie 5.0 litre

topdog

Yeh so would i, we know how to make good engines its just cheaper to get them in i spose. Im glad the falcon has decieded to keep making the ozzy engine for our ozzy car

Duck

At least Holden tried later and got the 5 star ANCAP, not like Toyota, like Wheelnut was saying. Toyota still has their “Game changing Aurion” which has still only 4 stars for ANCAP and haven’t even tried for a re-test not like Holden (and of course for Ford got the 5 star ANCAP in the first place, I didn’t forget). They can’t even bother! And their still getting terrible sales results for it’s V6 Camry!!!!!!!!!!!

So what is Toyota thinking!?!?!?!?!?!????!!!!!!!!!?????!!!!!!

Andrew M

Its good to see all round.

Holden supporters really have Ford to thank for this result.

If Ford had’nt had gone the whole hog and grabbed a 5 star, i highly doubt holden would have bothered re-engineering the front to also get the commy over the line.

Now im not being pig headed in saying that, its actually true.
That is just a prime example how the competition means win win for the consumer.

Aussiecar,
i dont know how a “more solid” chassis lessens the brutality of a side impact

As the game hasn’t changed – Holden and Ford are still beating Toyota in tersm of sales of their Family Sedans.

whereas I [and a number of car enthusiasts on this site] don’t consider the Aurion to be a direct rival to the Commodore or Falcon however; Toyota [and some of their fans] like to compare the Aurion to the Commodore and Falcon when something good about the Toyota comes out in the media… but whenever something bad about it is mentioned they say that its not a direct rival to the Commodore or Falcon.. and thats what I mean by “Goalpost Shifting”

It’s like a Rugby League team losing a game but saying “yes we lost but we scored more goals then they did”….aaaahh you still lost!

Then if the same Rugbty league team hppens to win against the same team that they previously lost to they say “yep we won we deserved it and the scoreboard shows it” when its more likely to have been because of the poor refereeing

Bret

Aussiecar Says:
December 8th, 2008 at 2:11 am
“Although the Falcon has a better safety rating, if I was going to get hit in the side by another car or truck, I would prefer the commodore due to its more solid chassis.”

I don’t know how you jump to that conclusion. The Falcon chassis always has been stronger, with better crash protection than commodore – and still is!

to keep in perspective, Aurion Camry and 380 still has the knee injury problem

fingers crossed now for Aurion to do the same
(if not physical steering column change then at least a knee airbag like Yaris Corolla and US Camry)
so Aurion can join the 5-star league and everyone is happy

Toyota fans would be even happier so that’ll bump it from from 30.03 to 35.03 to top the group